The Dust Bowl Drought Causes,

The Dust Bowl was not only one of the worst droughts in United States history, but is generally thought of as the worst and most prolonged disaster in American history. The effects of the Dust Bowl drought devastated the United States central states region known as the Great Plains (or High Plains). At the same time, the climatic effects all but dried up an already depressed American economy in the 1930s creating millions of dollars in damages. A Region Already Prone to Drought The Plains region of the United States has a semi-arid, or steppe climate. The next driest to desert climates, semi-arid climates receive less than 20 inches (510 mm) of rainfall per year which makes drought a serious weather hazard.   The plains are a broad expanse of flat land positioned to the east of the Rocky Mountains. Air flows down the lee slope of the mountains, then warms and rushes out across the flat land. Although there are periods of average or above average rainfall, they alternate with periods of below average rainfall, creating episodic, recurrent drought.   The Rain Follows the Plow Known as the Great American Desert to early European and American explorers, the Great Plains was first thought to be unsuitable for pioneer settlement and agriculture thanks to the lack of surface water.   Unfortunately, an unusually wet period in the second half of the 19th century gave rise to the pseudoscience theory that establishing farming would bring about a permanent increase in rainfall. Some researchers promoted dryland farming, such as the Campbell method, which combined subsurface packing–the creation of a hard layer about 4 inches below the surface—and soil mulch–a layer of loose soil at the surface.   Farmers began using the Campbell method to conduct large scale farming in the 1910s and 1920s, while the climate was somewhat wetter. When the drought hit in the late 20s, though, the farmers didnt have enough experience to have learned what the best tillage practices and equipment would be best for the steppe lands.   Heavy Debt Load   In the late 1910s, prices for wheat, the main Dust Bowl crop, were quite high due to demands for feeding people during World War I. Farmers used emerging tractor technologies to work the land and although tractors lowered labor costs and allowed the farmers to work larger acreages of land, the higher capital costs required for tractors resulted in mortgages on farms. The Federal government became involved in farm credit during the 1910s, making mortgages easier to obtain.   But in the 1920s, crop prices dropped as production increased, and reached minimum levels after the crash of the economy in 1929. Low crop prices were paired with poor harvests due to the drought but exacerbated by infestations of rabbits and grasshoppers.  When all those conditions came together, many farmers had no choice but to declare bankruptcy. Drought   A research study in 2004 by NASA senior research scientist Siegfried Schubert and colleagues found that precipitation in the Great Plains is sensitive to global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) which varied at the time. American research meteorologist Martin Hoerling and colleagues at NOAA suggest instead that the main reason for the drop in rainfall for the region between 1932 and 1939 was triggered by random atmospheric variability. But whatever the cause of the drought, the ending of the wetter period in the plains between 1930 and 1940 couldnt have come at a worse time.   The prolonged drought was made much worse by a fundamental misunderstanding of high plains environment, and the utilization of methods which called for a thin layer of dust to be purposefully exposed on the surface for large parts of the summer. Dust transmits influenza virus and measles and combined with the economic depression, the Dust Bowl period brought a  significant increase in the number of measles cases, respiratory disorders and increased infant and overall mortality in the plains.   Sources and Further Reading   Alexander, Robert, Connie Nugent, and Kenneth Nugent. The Dust Bowl in the Us: An Analysis Based on Current Environmental and Clinical Studies. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences 356.2 (2018): 90–96. Print.Hansen, Zeynep K., and Gary D. Libecap. Small Farms, Externalities, and the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Journal of Political Economy 112.3 (2004): 665–94. Print.Hoerling, Martin, Xiao-Wei Quan, and Jon Eischeid. Distinct Causes for Two Principal U.S. Droughts of the 20th Century. Geophysical Research Letters 36.19 (2009). Print.Kite, Steven, Shelly Lemons, and Jennifer Paustenbaugh. Dust, Drought, and Dreams Gone Dry Oral History Project. Edmon Low Library, Oklahoma State University,  Lee, Jeffrey A., and Thomas E. Gill. Multiple Causes of Wind Erosion in the Dust Bowl. Aeolian Research 19 (2015): 15–36. Print.Schubert, Siegfried D., et al. On the Cause of the 1930s Dust Bowl. Science 303.5665 (2004): 1855–59. Print.

Eliminating the Death Penalty - 1929 Words

Introduction The Golden Rule states that one should treat others as they expect to be treated. This simple and time honored tradition has allowed for peaceful coexistence in society throughout the development of history. Unfortunately disputes happen and agreements are broken. Laws have been developed as a result of humans interacting with each other as people continue to evolve. Somewhere along this evolutionary path, death and murder became acceptable when sanctioned by government or state agencies. This murder, execution became in existence to punish those who have broken the rules of society and the collective government had determined that death is the best possible outcome for the situation. The purpose of this essay is to describe the death penalty as a outdated and inefficient means of governance that demonstrates the barbaric nature of organized government that still exists today. This essay will discuss key elements of this subject as the more controversial and ignored facts about state-sanctioned death squads act to eliminate human life in the name of truth and justice. The essay will provide counter arguments that will help contextualize the argument and bring a new understanding to the subject that will help human evolution grow in new ways the eliminates the brutal and unnecessary treatment of prisoners. In Support Of Eliminating the Death Penalty Humanitys lack of understanding about life and death certainly causes many problems in society. The mysteryShow MoreRelatedEssay on Eliminating the Death Penalty916 Words   |  4 Pagesof the death penalty in the US. The death penalty also known as capital punishment is defined as punishment by death for a crime. In its simplest form, it is â€Å"state sanctioned killing (Jones).† Recent facts show that as of, â€Å"April 1, 2010, there are approximately 3,260 individuals,† waiting for their execution date while on death row in the US (â€Å"Death Penalty†) .It has been reported that, â€Å"since 1973 over 130 people have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence (â€Å"Death Penalty†)Read MoreEliminating the Death Penalty Essay examples1058 Words   |  5 Pagesseventy-five percent of the same adults felt that sentencing Richard Alan Davis to death was not wrong. The death penalty can often be approached in this matter. The defin ition seems somehow inadequate when it is compared to the crime. It is a paragon of situational ethics, and solid moral arguments are slim. As with many debates of human rights, the moral implications tend to be individual. But, the facts against the death penalty are less vague. Concrete examples of false convictions, unnecessary painRead MoreThe Death Penalty Should Not Be Passed925 Words   |  4 Pagesprospect of having the death penalty revoked. The death penalty bill in Ohio should not be passed because it is a humane, needed consequence, and lowers heinous crimes. The death penalty has been in Ohio history since the 1800s. In these years, it has changed into an acceptable consequence. In a trial process, it is always considered last. The presence of the death penalty keeps crime lower in Ohio as by eliminating murders stops aspiring murders. Although the death penalty has been around sinceRead MoreThe Death Penalty Should Not Be Passed942 Words   |  4 Pagesof having the death penalty revoked. The death penalty bill in Ohio should not be passed because it is humane, a needed consequence, and lowers heinous crimes. The death penalty has been in Ohio history since the 1800s. In these years, it has changed into an acceptable consequence. In a trial process, it is always considered last. The presence of the death penalty lowers crime in Ohio, provided that by eliminating murders, aspiring murderers are stopped. Although the death penalty has been aroundRead MoreThe Issue Of Capital Punishment Essay1149 Words   |  5 PagesToday, one of the most debated issues in the Criminal Justice System is the issue of capital punishment or the death penalty. Having said that, crime is imminent. We could have an unexpected encounter with a criminal committing crime on a daily. Criminals have become a part of our daily lives. Does this mean we should let them prevail in our society? No, absolutely not. Eliminating crime and criminals is our duty, and we must not ignore it. Getting the rightly accused to a just punishment is veryRead MoreThe Death Penalty Essay610 Words   |  3 PagesThe Death Penalty The Death penalty has been a controversial subject since the beginning of time. People are concerned about the morality of the death penalty thus making it a debatable subject. Because of this, James Freeman, columnist for USA Today, decided to write an editorial on the subject of â€Å"Does America need the death penalty?† While being a writer for USA Today, one would think that he would effectively use the appeals of rhetoric (ethos, pathos, and logos), but in fact he doesRead MoreThe Execution Of A Burglary At Micke s Home1078 Words   |  5 Pagessentenced to death. Previously, Furman was diagnosed as mentally impaired with psychotic episodes and convulsive disorder, however his trial attorney failed to mention the details pertaining to his client’s mental deficiencies. The jury only took into consideration the fact that Furman was young, black, and worked at a Superior Upholstery. Furman’s lawyers claimed to the Supreme Court that jury discretion, which is not governed by principle when it comes to imposing the death penalty for murder,Read MoreShould Capital Punishment Still be Used in the American System1260 Words   |  6 Pagespunishment, also known as the death penalty, â€Å"is the pre-meditated and planned taking of a human life by a government in response to a crime committed by that legally convicted person† (usliberals.about.com). â€Å"Most death penalty cases involve the execution of murderers.† Capital punishment can also be â€Å"applied for treason, espionage, and other crimes† (ProCon.org Death Penalty ProCon.org). The death penalty is done â€Å"primarily by means of lethal injection† (ProCon.org Death Penalty ProCon.org). ManyRead More Benefits of the Death Penalty Essay1545 Words   |  7 Pagessomeone you know? He should receive the death penalty! Murderers and rapists should be punished for the crimes they have committed and should pay the price for their wrongdoing. Having the death penalty in our society is humane; it helps the overcrowding problem and gives relief to the families of the victims, who had to go through an event such as murder. Without the death penalty, criminals would be more inclined to commit additional violent crimes. Fear of death discourages people from committingRead More Death Penalty Essay664 Words   |  3 Pages The use of the death penalty in the United States has been a great debate for many years. One of the major aspects of this debate is whether or not we should continue to use this form of punishment for criminals. In my opinion, the death penalty should be abolished because it costs taxpayers much more than sending an inmate to prison and there is no factual evidence that it has any greater deterrent effect than life imprisonment. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;One major reason that I believe that

Coach Inc free essay sample

First, Lew Frankfort should continue to make new, high quality handbags that will impress customers. This will help Coach to continue to grow and prosper. New designs will help attract more customers to buy Coach products. The company can only benefit with new and unique products in the market. If Lew Frankfort can continue to do this Coach can be a leader in the market, which will help the company grow. Second, brand awareness should be increased. It can be increased through social media and e-commerce sites. This will help Coach be well known around the world. The more people know about the company and it’s products the more customers it will attract. Third, Coach should protect its products against counterfeiting. Coach can do this by making sure that no patterns or fabrics are stolen so that they can be made into fakes that look similar to the authentic products. The consequence was the Coach’s demand began to outstrip the supply. However, Miles Cahn refused to change the way they worked since the beginning, even if his refusal implies to sacrifice quality for larger production volume. Miles Cahn sold the company to Sara Lee Corporation and Lew Frankfort taking over the reigns as president. International expansion started in 1988. Stores opened in England and Japan. Today, the company still maintains large profit margins and show a strong worldwide presence. Greatly expanded, Coach Inc. continues to purpose the highest standards for materials and workmanship to their customers. Values The Coach brand respect different values that represent its way of think and its creativity. The company and its brand represent a synthesis between magic and logic. This assembly allow it to purpose luxury goods with high quality and a traditional authenticity. Moreover, the company focus the satisfaction of their customers. This is the main objective to fulfil because a satisfied client is a loyal customer. Coach Inc. wish for establish a long-term relationship with its customers. Then, the company puts emphasis to respect concepts of integrity, honesty and fairness. It is on these points that Coach Inc. built its image and its reputation. It wishes to remain respectful and engaged. To offer new products to meet changing customer needs, the company moves constantly in a process of research and innovation. Finally, Coach Inc. considers its workforce like a real strength. It gathers collaborative people in a dynamic culture of mutual respect. The link between them is the passion for the Coach brand and its luxury leather goods. They are together, with a same goal, same objective to fulfil. Question 1: Characteristics and particularity of the luxury goods industry The luxury goods industry has the particularity to include brand recognition, high quality and that means to have high-income elasticity of demand. Indeed, the demand varies depending on the wealth of people. When this characteristic increase, the luxury goods demands too and it is the same fact when the wealth decrease. Moreover, luxury goods companies attract the customer attention by using the image of some models and famous persons. This type of advertising contributes to increase the demand of luxury goods. Indeed, this market knows a constant evolution with 9% of growth per year. In the luxury goods industry, customers buy products for self-satisfaction. It is not a real need, but more a desire to have fun and boost their self-esteem. To explain more, a purchase of luxury goods don’t fill a primary need like food or housing for example, even if this need’s satisfaction can help the person to feel ease and give her comfort. The luxury goods industry shows important changes at different levels. We can observe that with the case of Coach Inc. Indeed, the company have two types of stores: factory stores with discount prices and upscale stores with high prices. Today, the American crisis has a bad impact on factory stores. This phenomenon is due to the drop of incomes and, in consequence, to the fall of budget reserved for this type of purchase. On the contrary, upscale stores don’t know any problems and can hope a great future because of the rise of number of very rich people like millionaires. Question 2: What is competition like in the luxury goods industry? What competitive forces seem to have the greatest effect on industry attractiveness? What are the competitive weapons that rivals are using to try to outmanoeuvre one another in the marketplace? Is the pace of rivalry quickening and becoming more intense? Why or why not? Coach in luxury goods industry is strong and market continues to increase thanks of the growing demand in emerging markets what makes the competence be less fierce. The demand in emerging markets continues growing in countries as China and India because of the growth of the middle class. Growth is the luxury industry is mainly attributed to the increase of incomes and wealth in developing countries in Eastern Europe and Asia, and also to a change in buying habits in the US. One of the competitive forces that have effect on industry attractiveness is the treat of new entrants and how hard is to build a brand name. It needs a huge investment to get this. That is why it can be difficult for new entrants to catch up strong brand such as Prada or Coach. One good way to get a stronger brand image is hiring celebrities and obtains higher status. For instance, Coach calls on famous Chinese actors or model and Louis Vuitton also uses celebrities to promote his brand image introducing fashion trends. But the biggest weapon is customer services where some companies are failing, more than half luxury store shoppers are unhappy with their shopping experience. For instance, Coach commits to refurbish or replace damaged bags without looking the age of the bag. Question 3 : How is the market for luxury handbags and leather accessories changing? What are the underlying drivers of change and how might those driving forces change the industry? The change in luxury handbags’ market is mainly due to an evolution of needs and buying habits. Indeed, the new generation is different; it has different perspective and a strong opinion concerning branding and dressing. The market for handbags is growing rapidly in North America what has helped Coach to get a great deal in the last few years. One of the main drivers of change is the rapidity of communication and information thanks to technology. Nowadays, consumers are well informed and can know all the fashion trends easily. It changes the industry because as trends appear and disappear very quickly, luxury brands often have to launch new products base. Indeed, consumers are searching for novelty so it is necessary to introduce new products regularly. We also have to notice that there is an increasing demand for consumer services in the luxury industry. Indeed, when customers pay a high price product they expect for quality and status Question 4: What key factors determine the success of makers of fine ladies handbags and leather accessories? In order to guarantee the success of a handbag and leather accessories brand, several key factors have to be taken into account. First, the quality and design of the product. Indeed, it’s one of the most important points: a luxury brand has to select the highest quality leather and to propose styled products designed by famous and competent designers. A luxury handbag is a real investment and women have to be sure that this investment worth it. It is possible to increase the margin by outsourcing production to lower cost market (egg: Coach outsources in China) Then, women are looking for novelty that’s why the regular introduction of new product is necessary. An accessories brand has to develop new style and new usage collection in a regular way in order to keep the interest of customers. It’s also necessary to have effective advertising and TV programming that glorified suspicious consumption. A good promotion is essential to underline the features and advantages of the product. Finally, a good corporate image supposes to have a good merchandising strategy and good looking premises. For instance, Coach got 160m? in Haussmann overflow with marble, gold, †¦. Which allow the brand to keep it luxury image. Finally, having good channel of distribution is necessary. Coach use direct-to-consumers channels (full price and factory stores) and indirect channel (wholesale accounts, international market). Question 5: What is Coach’s strategy to compete in the ladies handbag and leather accessories industry? Has the company’s competitive strategy yielded a sustainable competitive advantage? If so, has that advantage translated into superior financial and market performance? The strategy adopted by the company is a concept called accessible luxury; with this concept, the company can propose handbag and leather accessories of high quality (selection of the highest quality leather) at an accessible price (about 50-75% lower than other luxury brand). It helps the company to differentiate itself of other luxury brands. In order to continue in this logic of differentiation, Coach also introduces regularly new handbags and leather accessories on the market, and provides a very good customer services. So the competitive advantage of the company is its styling, quality and pricing; and it allowed it to reach two kind of consumers: middle income consumers with tastes of luxury and affluent consumers (lots of means) who will buy regularly coach products. This strategy allows the brand to have a sustainable growth. Indeed, thanks to the accessible luxury, the brand is first in the US with 25% of the market share, and second in Japan (8% of the market share) and the company plans to add lots of retail location in the US and, and expected its licensed international distributors to open new location in Hong Kong and mainland China. Thus, in the US , Coach has been ranked ahead of much more expensive luxury brands such as Hermes, Prada, Fendi. Coach adopted a growth strategy in order to increase the sales. That involved store expansion in the US, Japan, HK and mainland China (opportunity to double the number of full-price retail stores in the US and increase the number of North Americain factory stores by a thord; add 70 additional Coach stores in Japan, †¦) Another initiative is to increase same-store sales by developing new styles, new usage collections and exploiting gift giving opportunities. It also developed its website by creating a new section for gift givers (ex: the site recommended handbags preferred by professional women, handbags for formal events,†¦) The company also put in place agreement with other brand like for instance Lutz and Patmos or Estee Lauder (launch of a fragrance sold since spring 2007) Question 6 : What are the resource strengths and weaknesses of Coach Inc.? What competencies and capabilities does it have that its chief rivals don’t have? What new market opportunities does Coach have? What threats do you see to the company’s future well being? The Strengths are multiple. First they have a good pricing strategy of accessible luxury, with prices below the actual luxury brands of 50%. Moreover they are reputed for their high levels of customer services and this is a competitive advantage of Coach. In fact they are in 2006 the number 1 in the United States in women’s luxury handbags and leather accessories. Their success comes from the monthly launching of new designed products. What’s more Coach Inc. has many ways of distributing channels that helps attract new customers. They also have Weaknesses, like the inventory turnover. In fact the inventory turnover is pretty low, a little bit too low: during holidays the manufacturers receive 3 to 5 messages a day to be update on the most selling goods to adapt its production. A more bothersome problem for coach is that they almost only target women; men’s sales are only 2% of the total sales. Moreover with their strategy of implanting new stores, there would be too many stores open and would consequently decrease the brand name. Opportunities are the growing demand of accessible luxury and the growth of the luxury industry in developing countries, like those in East Europe. They currently in 2006 target mainly people in the USA, Japan and some East Asia countries, like Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia†¦ But they can develop themselves in Europe and South America too. Moreover in the countries in which they already are, more and or middle-income people become customers of luxury industry. We also see an augmentation of sales via internet, so online advertising, online marketing and online sales are also opportunities The competitors are of course a main threat of Coach furthermore they launched â€Å"diffusion line† that’s to say a sub brand with goods the same price as Coach’s. These brands are Italian and French, the main rivalry is with Dolce Gabbana, Gianni Versace and Gorgio Armani. Another threat in the market in the growing counterfeiting often made in China. ? Coach Inc. has to develop itself in new countries, keep the high quality products and customer services. But it has also to target more people, to stay a foot ahead of competitors. Resources (VIRN and –tangible, intangible, no HR because we don’t have any data in the case-) Tangible: Financial: Coach Inc. has a great net income of $ 494,277 and a good leverage ratio of (437,786 / 1,626,520) = 0. 27. This ratio means that the company uses well debts to finance its assets the risks for bankruptcy is very low. Physical: The number of owned locations and retail locations Full price stores (flagship stores), factory stores, locations in Japan and outside Japan and USA are the owned locations of Coach Inc. Moreover we can also find Coach’s goods in 500 US-department stores and Coach’s retail stores. Coach owns also its own trademark but agreed that Movado Group could sell Coach branded watches. They also had an agreement with Jimlar Corp. and Marchon Eyewear. Jimlar can manufacture and sell women footwear and Marchon Eyewear can do the same for Coach’s eyewear and sunglasses. Intangible: Managerial: Lew Frankfort was placed at the head position when he already worked for 18 years for the company. ? The top managerial resource of Coach Inc. is that important people like Lew Frankfort or Reed Krakoff know the market and the needs to stay in the competition. Capacity to innovate: They indeed launch new products with new design monthly. This strategy is thanks to Reed Krakoff, the Executive Creative Director. He worked before for Tommy Hilfiger as designer. Krakoff thought that a good selling company of luxurious goods was to base itself on a market study to know the desire of customers and consumers but to not base itself on designer’s instinct. Capabilities Innovative Product: As said above, Krakoff is on market research more than in designer’s instinct, that’s why Coach is so close to consumers. It watches out for customer’s needs and trend. Services: The after sales service is also a capability of coach Inc. provoking an increase of loyalty among customers. Type of distribution: Coach has a lot of channels distribution and it is really a great capabilities. They can target different type of people in different area of the world. We can find again in the competencies of Coach Inc. the different channels of distribution and the management. Question 7: What recommendations would you make to Lew Frankfort to improve the company’s competitive position in the industry and its financial and market performance? We can differentiate short term-recommendations and long-term recommendation. Concerning the short term, Coach should start by reinforce the brand awareness and to maintain the quality of its products. These two recommendations are linked: indeed, the fact that Coach produces its products in China has been really criticized. For the consumers, â€Å"luxury† can’t go hand in hand with â€Å"made in China† so the positioning of the brand has been cast doubt on. Thus, Coach has to work on its branding in order to still be accepted as a luxury brand. Coach, as other luxury brand, also has to be careful concerning the counterfeit problem because it represents about 9% of all good sold worldwide. In the long-run, Coach has to identify opportunities within Eastern Europe, Asia or South America, that is to say emerging markets which could generate an important growth and with joint ventures. But before entering in new market, Coach has to consolidate its presence in current market. It has to exploit opportunity for expansion in mature markets such as the US and Japan. Indeed, the USA and Japan are the two largest consumers of luxury goods and people focus on them to set the standard of this industry. It would be interesting to develop an important international presence in developing countries and create a global strategy. Then, to adapt more its strategy to the industry changes, Coach should the store count goal in light to understand what has happened on the economy during the last couple months. We think that it would be interesting to put more emphasis on factory stores that allow customer to purchase luxury goods at accessible prices. Indeed, with the actual conditions of the society, customers have less money to spend in this type of expensive product and they reduce their budget part for that. Develop more factory stores with products factory out at accessible price without taxes that are attractive for the customer. To progress on this luxury industry, Coach must also observe the industry’s leader, using these observations to advance in its strategy. Coach can apply characteristics of leader’s strategy to offer affordable luxury goods to go along side its full-price stores. It would be interesting too, to open flagship stores in order to build a luxury image. After few years, opening factory stores, customers that like the brand, its collection and its image, but that can’t afford them until that time, will rush in factory stores to purchase luxury leather goods at accessible prices. Finally, we also think that it can be an opportunity to reach a new target: men. Indeed, lots of brands already produce men bags and leather accessories and it could be an opportunity for sales’ growth to launch a new product base for men.

Often Times People Tend To Look At A Work Of Art And Only See A Essay Example For Students

Often Times People Tend To Look At A Work Of Art And Only See A Essay picture. Later, if one looks closer a clear message or meaning isdepicted by the artist. Thomas Hart Bentons work, CradlingWheat, for example is just a picture at first glance, but as oneexamines the painting closer, the story behind it becomes evident. This tempera and oil on board composition illustrates fourmen in a field threshing and bundling wheat. Benton draws theviewers eye forward by placing the characters in the foreground ofthe work and the surrounding landscape in the back. Here, theAmerican artist presents the focal point he intended. The faces ofthe men in the piece are all hidden by hats, distance, or turnedbacks. By hiding their faces the conclusion can be drawn thatthese men are hired hands. Benton emphasizes the type of menby presenting them in similar clothing. All dressed in charcoaltrousers and sky-blue work shirts, they appear to be wearinguniforms. Perhaps the artist feels that most farm hands wereno-named and insignificant and expresses his opinion by givingthem these characteristics. Assumable is the fact that thepainting depicts times before electricity and the invention ofmotors because the men are using hand tools to cut and bundlethe wheat. Included in the focal point, of course, is the wheat. Benton combines texture and a vivid shade of tan to bring thewheat field to life. While the texture of the wheat is definite, it isalso soft, creating the effect of a light breeze in the Midwesternscene. The brightness of the color of the wheat also adds to the3atmosphere created by the artist. While the background sets acertain mood, the brilliance of the wheat helps define the type ofday Benton wanted to portray-a hot, summer afternoon. Inaddition to the wheat, a few small wildflowers are scatteredthroughout the field. The philosophy behind the dispersedblossoms suggests a break in the monotony of constancy. Thereis a constancy of wheat and a constancy of labor and while theclever, American artist is aiming to show the life of a farmhand, headded the flowers to simply break up the invariability. The secondary part of the composition, the background, doesnothing more than set the mood or atmosphere and provide aspecific landscape for the work. Closest to the focal point is a lineof trees and foliage which separates the wheat field from anotherfield. The use of the dark emerald vegetation emphasizes thecertainty that the scene is on an immense farm. Behind the wild foliage is another spacial field of a light shadeof green. By adding this field, Benton implies that the farm growsa variety of crops, but again, it chiefly adds to the landscape andlittle more than that. Following the light green field is yet another field. It appearsto be a second wheat field of a darker shade of tan. The tawnyhue of this field gives a shaded effect achieving a distant air. While most of the background exclusively sets the scene, thissubsequent wheat field also seems to signify the vast workload

Lord of the Flies Essay Example

Lord of the Flies Essay Civilization vs. Savagery What do symbols illustrate in novels? In William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, symbols are illustrated through people, objects, and colors. In this novel, a group of children are faced with the difficulty of living isolated from society after their plane crashes on a deserted island. With no formal civilization, parents, or rules, the kids have the freedom to do as they choose. Throughout the novel, the boys find and use objects on the island that symbolize something of different importance. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses different objects to symbolize the difference between civilization and savagery. One of the first symbols presented in the Lord of the Flies is the conch shell. After the boys’ plane has crashed on the island, Ralph and Piggy, two of the main characters, find the conch lying in the sand on the beach. Ralph immediately recognizes the conch as being a possible way â€Å"to call the children to assemblies. † (Cox 170). The conch soon becomes one of the most powerful symbols of civilization in the novel. â€Å"He can hold it, when he’s speaking. † (Golding 33). This quote refers to the idea that, whoever has possession of the shell, may speak. It soon becomes a symbol of democratic power, proactively governing the boys. We will write a custom essay sample on Lord of the Flies specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Lord of the Flies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Lord of the Flies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer With Ralph being the leader, and Piggy by his side, the conch shell serves as an equivalent to the executive branch of government. He who holds the shell is superior, at that time. When savagery begins to take control of the boys as the novel progresses, the conch shell begins to lose power. After innocent Ralph is involved with the murdering of Simon, he holds onto the conch tightly, remembering the sense of graciousness that he once had. The conch shell ends up getting smashed during the scene of Piggy’s death, when Roger kills him with ‘the rock,’ another symbol in the book. Another symbol presented in Lord of the Flies is the beast. The beast, representing horror, is the most intricate of all the symbols. It is unique because it is not an actual object, but instead it is the imagination of the boys. It shows the inclination toward evil that all human beings are faced with in a time of great disaster. Simon, a character of human goodness rather than savage, comes up with the conclusion that the beast was not actually an object or figure, but instead it was the boys themselves. â€Å"Maybe it’s only us. † (Golding 89). After Simon speaks of this, the boys erupt in anger. Jack and the rest of his savage boys fall into chaos. Jack promises that there is a beast and they will find and kill it. The boys’ strong will to kill shows their fear of the beast and it disables the connection that they once had with civilization. As the savagery of the boys continues, the beast becomes looked upon as a leader, and they begin to make sacrifices. The erratic behavior expressed by the boys is what brings the beast out of their imaginations and portrays it as something that actually exists. The more devilish the boys become, the more the beast seems to be real. Along with the conch, the next symbol, the signal fire, was also present at the beginning of the novel. This symbol, representing life, was one of the only chances the boys had for reconnecting with society. Two signal fires were made on the island. One was built on the mountain in hope that a plane would see it, and the other was built on the beach, in hope that a ship would see it. In the first few chapters, the boys strived hard to keep the fire going, except for Jack. Instead of focusing on the fire, Jack was more excited about hunting for pigs. â€Å"There was a ship. Out there. You said you’d keep the fire going and you let it out! † (Golding 70). This shows how much the fire meant. Knowing that the boys may only have one chance at being saved, Ralph was furious at Jack when he found out that he let the fire burn out. The fire was so important to the boys on the island because it represented the small amount of civilization still left inside of them. When the fire burnt out and the ship did not see them, the boys ultimately gave up. They recognized the fact that they weren’t going to be saved and they would have to live lives of savages. Oddly enough however, at the end of the story the boys are saved because a ship sees a fire on the island; not the signal fire, but a fire made from the destruction caused by the savage boys. Another symbol is presented through the disability of one of the characters, Piggy, whose vision is much below average. He has glasses and these glasses play an important role throughout the book. Piggy is the smartest and most intellectual out of all the boys. From the very beginning of the novel Piggy’s intellect is shown when he uses his glasses to start the first ignal fire. He uses the lenses to reflect the sun’s light on a piece of wood. Piggy’s glasses play a key role in keeping the boys’ minds focused on being rescued. As long as they had a signal fire lit, the chances of being rescued were still probable. The boys’ chances of being returned to society vanish after an altercation between Ralph and Jack, where Jack steals Piggy’s glasses from his face. Ralph and Piggy are now left abandoned after Jack, now with the glasses, moves to the other side of the island with a few of the other boys. Piggy, without his glasses, cannot see. This represents the change from civilization to savagery. At the start of the novel, when Piggy first has his glasses, the boys on the island remain civilized, making attempts to keep the signal fire strong. As the novel progresses, and Piggy looses his glasses, the decline of civilization toward savagery is present. The collapse of the boys is also revealed through the symbolic masks that the boys design. These masks, which are used by Jacks followers called ‘the hunters,’ are made of clay paint. The evilness of the boys is clearly shown when they wear the masks. It is almost as if an infectious disease is spread upon them; they lose all sense of civilization. After Jack paints the mask on his face for the first time, it is clear what it does to him. â€Å"He began to dance and his laughter became a blood thirsty snarling. â€Å"He capered toward Bill, and the mask was a thing of its own, behind which Jack hid, liberated from shame and self-consciousness. † (Golding 64). This not only shows the cruelty of the mask, but it also shows how it opens Jack into the world of being a savage. Also, Golding mentions the colors of Jack’s first mask as being Red, White, and Black. These colors symbolize â€Å"violence, terror, and evil. † (Golding). The darkest and most violent symbol on the island is the rock. Roger, one of the savage boys, uses the rock to kill Piggy. Comparable to the mask, the rock is red representing violence. â€Å"High overhead, Roger with a sense of delirium abandonment, leaned all of his weight on the lever. † (Golding 180). This describes the scene when Roger, standing on a cliff, pushes the rock down on Piggy. The scene in the story when Roger kills Piggy represents more than just the death of one of the protagonists. Not only does the rock smash Piggy, but it also shatters the conch. The conch and Piggy were a few of the only figures of civilization left on the island. At this point, almost all the boys become savages and feel no sympathy towards the death of Piggy. In Lord of the Flies, the main characters are used to signify important thoughts and concepts. Piggy represents â€Å"prudence, logic, science, and the process on thought, which he uses throughout the story to remain civilized. † (Taylor). Piggy is the thinker behind Ralph, the leader, who comes up with ideas such as starting the fire with his glasses. His intellect represents the world of civilization that the boys once lived in. Simon has been given the characteristic of a mystic, or someone that is supernatural. He signifies â€Å"the Christ-figure. † (Spitz). In an Interview, William Golding even refers to Simon as â€Å"a saint. † (Kermode 219). He is shy and incomplete, yet he uses the intellect that he has to help others. Ralph, who has been the leader from early in the novel, is the most important representation of civilization on the island. Even though he loses his best friend Piggy, his friend Simon, and the conch, he still remains civilized. Like Simon, he learns that savagery is present among all humans. Jack, being the first of two main antagonists, is the number one exemplary of savagery on the island. His lust for power and his rampant terror among the boys sets him far apart from the civilized. This is present at the very beginning of the novel when Jack becomes upset about loosing the top leadership position to Ralph. The second antagonist is Roger. Roger shows the cruelty and bloodthirstiness of the savages at their climax. Roger, being one of Jack’s main followers, ends up murdering Piggy with the rock. The most significant and most apparent symbol in the story is the Lord of the Flies. The Lord of the Flies, which gives the book its title, is a slaughtered pig’s head that is placed onto a spear. The head, seen by Simon, is described as gruesome and terrifying. When Simon stumbles upon it in the Jungle, it seems to talk to him, telling him about the evil that lies within all humans. The dead pig’s head also tells Simon that he is going to have some â€Å"fun† with him, which foreshadows Simon’s death. The Lord of the Flies is ultimately a symbol of terror, but more importantly a symbol of the devil. The evil shown through the pig’s head is the same evil that has been causing the civility of the boys to decline. In Lord of the Flies, William Golding uses different objects to symbolize the difference between civilization and savagery. From the beginning of the novel to the end, the decline of civilization toward savagery is present among the boys. At the start, the boys tried hard to remain civilized by using objects such as the signal fire and Piggy’s glasses. As the novel progressed, the turn from civilization to savagery began to take place after Jack lets his lust for savagery get the best of him when he steals Piggy’s glasses. Lastly, at the end of the novel, the domination of savagery is present with the masks, the Lord of the Flies, and the rock. Once all hope of returning to civilization is lost, the boys accept their lives as savages. The symbolism that Golding employs in Lord of the Flies shows the difference between the civilization that the boys’ once knew and the savagery that fell upon them. Works Cited Cox, C. B. A review of ‘Lord of the Flies. ’ † Critical Quarterly 2. 2 (Summer 1960): 112-17. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Roger Matuz. Vol. 58. Detroit: Gale, 1990. 170-72. Dunn, Daisy, â€Å"Book Blog| The Spectator. † Spectator Magazine| World Politics Current Events, News, and Discussion. The Spectator. 17 Nov. 2011. Web. 25 Nov. 2011. Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print. Golding, William. â€Å"Lord of the Flies Themes| Gradesaver. † Study Guides Essay Editing| Gradesaver. Gradesaver LLC, 1999. Web. 9. Nov. 2011. Kermode, Frank. â€Å"The Meaning of It All. † Lord of the Flies: Casebook Edition. Ed. James R. Baker Arthur P. Ziegler, Jr. New York: Penguin Group, 1988. Spitz, David. â€Å"Power And Authority: An Interpretation of Golding’s ‘Lord of the Flies. ’ † The Antioch Review 30. 1 (Spring 1970): 21-33. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Ed. Sharon R. Gunton. Vol. 17. Detroit: Gale, 1981. 172-73. Taylor H. Harry. Rev. of The Case Against William Golding’s Simon-Piggy. (2004): 65-67. Bloom, Harold. â€Å"Bloom’s Guides: Comprehensive Research Study Guides. † Print. Lord Of The Flies Essay Example Lord Of The Flies Paper I will now talk about the opening of Harry Hooks second screen adaptation of William Goldings cult novel about a group of British school children that revert to savagery when marooned on a deserted island. The new adaptation replaces British school children with a group of American military cadets. Harry Hook is also a very effective professional film director who employs a wide range of camera techniques. At the start of Harry Hooks version of Lord Of The Flies we see a blank screen for about 10 seconds, we also hear very strange electronic music, which gives a strange intriguing effect. This also gives the audience no idea about what is going on this is very similar to Peter Brooks first shot in his screen adaptation of Lord Of The Flies only Brook has a bell in the background. We see the foot descending. When we see the foot it gives a shocking effect, but as we then see the full male body descending it seems quite peaceful. While we see this there is no noise at all. This is also very similar to Peter Brookss version of The Lord Of The Flies because I think Brook uses Cricket and people clapping politely to represent peace, Harry Hook decides to use the silence to represent peace. We will write a custom essay sample on Lord Of The Flies specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Lord Of The Flies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Lord Of The Flies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer When we see the man slowly sinking past the camera we see he is wearing a pilots uniform. The audience can infer that this man is a pilot. The audience can also deduce that we are in the sea or underwater. We then see bubbles rising from his mouth we can now infer that he is drowning; we then see a blue screen this is confusing the audience are trying to guess what is happening. The camera then cuts to a shot of boys above the water, the water is splashing against the camera and making the camera move so we can not see exactly what is going on, we hear loud screaming there is a sense of panic and worry. Harry Hook has used the camera in a first person point of view so it seems like we are actually seeing the view that one of the boys would see. We then see an underwater shot looking upwards we see flailing legs and hear muffled shouting. I like this camera technique because it creates a sense of confusion and disorientation. This camera technique was used a lot in the film Jaws it created a sense of panic and distress because when ever we seen an underwater shot in Jaws we knew something bad was going to happen just like when we hear the drum in Peter Brooks version of The Lord Of The Flies we know something bad is going to happen. The camera then rotates 360 degrees looking upwards from under the water. This shows the vulnerability of the survivors. We then see another underwater shot of a boy swimming down again. The audience is confused wondering what is he after? Then see a mid shot of a life raft then exploding open this startles the audience and explains how they survive and also what the boy was so desperate to retrieve from the water. In the next shot we see the title credits Lord Of The Flies on a silver and black background. And just like the Peter Brook version the letters stand out from the black background. We hear jaunty music drums, violins and flutes it has a very Irish jig feel to it, which in my opinion creates a sense of adventure and excitement. The next shot we see an extreme long shot of the island where their destination is. The raft floats onto the screen from a distance showing the survivors, who there are about twenty children and one pilot, unconscious. The boys wade ashore to where their journey begins. Lord of the Flies Essay Example Lord of the Flies Paper Lord of the Flies was written in the 50s, a decade or so after the war. The war demonstrated the savagery of the human race most famously so with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The book is a reflection of Goldings pessimism of human nature. The island becomes a microcosm of the wider world where fallen human nature leads to a huge war. When all the boys meet together in chapter 2, there is initially some conflict between Ralph and Jack, but this is just a struggle of egos and not necessarily showing any kind of savagery. There is at first an agreement to order the island with a democratic system, and this is first represented by the conch, which is in effect the symbol for democracy on the island. Ill give the conch to the next person to speak. He can hold it when hes speaking. Originally we see the boys as mildly presentable, most noticeably the choir who are introduced to us in a formation all in identical black clothing Each boy wore a square black cap with a silver badge in it. Their bodies from throat to ankle, were hidden with black cloaks. But soon all the boys except Piggy become far more scruffy and disorganised and eventually develop animalistic behaviour. These traits are most prominent in Jack. Here are some quotes showing his less civilised appearance Tattered shorts, hair is considerably longer, His bare back was a mass of dark freckles and peeling sunburn. He is described as dog like, flared nostrils hiss of indrawn breath, eyes are bolting and nearly mad. He speaks more aggressively now aswell as being offensive suddenly Jack shouted in rage Are you accusing? He and his now group of hunters which in itself is a descent into savagery turning a group of choir boys to hunters now discover bloodlust and have somewhat of an obsession with hunting. We will write a custom essay sample on Lord of the Flies specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Lord of the Flies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Lord of the Flies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer On Jacks first hunting attempt we saw reluctance in killing the pig. Perhaps because his consience is trying to prevent him from crossing the line into savagery. The next time Jack sees the pig he attacks it with no hesitation at all. He swung back his right arm and hurled the spear with all his strength. compulsion to kill Not only does he not hesitate when hunting anymore but he actually enjoys it as stated by Ralph But you like it! You want to hunt. Which is not followed by a denial from Jack. Hunting is becoming a personal preoccupation for him. Kill the pig. Cut her throat. Spill her blood. Is Jacks most emphatic statement concerning hunting, and cements the idea in the readers head Jack is now a savage. His attitude rubs of on the boys, they become more savage and are made into a tribe, with painted faces and a desire to kill. The boys sat down and panted like dogs. paint our faces so they wouldnt see-surround them and then.. An example of Jacks attitude rubbing of on the choir boys is when Roger and Maurice kick over the littluns sand castles kicking them over, burying the flowers, scattering the chosen stones. Maurice followed, laughing, and added to the destruction. The fact that the small boys were known with the generic title of littluns and bullied about due to the social heirachy in place is explained by the fact there is no society where the boys are. No mothers watching their children the society is their own, and with those rules out of place Golding shows, this cruel nature is in all of us, but society restricts us from demonstrating it. Maurice had received chastisement for filling a younger eye with sand. Now there was no parent to let fall a heavy hand. The whole system of democracy begins to fail early on in the book, Jacks stubbornness to cooperate is a main cause of this, he hunts on his own and takes away many of the boys from democracy All at once the crowd swayed towards the island and were gone-following Jack. Most of the boys do not play their part in the democratic society Theyre off bathing, or eating, or playing Ralph makes meetings and everyone talks and makes decisions, but very rarely are these ideas actually into action Every day. Twice a day. We talk. Jack insists on dictatorship, he breaks the rules frequently and likes to control the group and not hear others views. Eventually he breaks away from the group and forms his own, who are complete savages and only seek to cause destruction upon the island. He becomes somewhat of a tribal chief, dressing himself up as an idol The move from democracy to dictatorship is shown through tribal dancing, chanting, feasting, disregard for the littluns. The tribe do not use names, they sacrifice a pigs head to the beast. The conch loses power throughout the book mainly because of Jack manipulating its purpose and rules. For instance he says the conch doesnt count at the top of the mountain and eventually it is destroyed in the fight between the two tribes. One can also detect the descend into savagery through the events of the boys using rocks and stones and making fires. The great rock of pink granite is the meeting place of the boys for meetings and could therefore be seen as the physical symbol of organisation, democracy and civilisation manifested on the island. Rocks and stones are soon items that aggression are taken out, for example there is a part of the book where Roger throws stones at Henry, even though he deliberately misses him because the way he acted in a civilised society is still fresh in his mind. here, invisible yet strong, was the taboo of the old life. He is excited at the prospect of mastery over Henrys actions, an emotion showing fallen human nature. In Chapter 6 we see a party led by Ralph and Jack lead a party to hunt the beast on a previously unexplored part of the island. All but Ralph become restless with the challenge of being rescued and are instead compelled to tip over rocks, but this time it has a darker motive. The rocks are not just tipped for fun as they were with Jack, Simon and Ralph early on, but they are tools of losing aggression. The climax of rock tipping is met when Ralph and Piggy and the twins go to Jacks tribe on the fort. Roger finds a rock that would be suitable to crush the people down below a log had been jammed under the topmost rock and another lever under that a full effort would send the rock thundering down. Note that Roger no longer hesitates when it comes to using rocks to inflict pain, the invisible force that is his civilised self is now gone. Roger pushes the rock down and kills Piggy, the group have commited a deliberate act of murder and it completes the descendance of his tribe into evil, savage behaviour. The conch exploded into a thousand tiny fragments and ceased to exist this is a symbol of the complete and utter annhialation of democracy, order, and civilization. It holds the significance of Piggys glasses being broken (the breakdown of true vision) but on a grander scale. Also fire holds a role in the descent into savagery, originally fire is a good thing. It seems as though it is the boys escape from the island and perhaps their only hope, this would be done by sending up smoke which they hoped would be seen by a passing boat/ship If a ship comes near the island they may notice us. So we must make smoke on top of the mountain. This plan eventually turns into an assault on nature, the fire crawled through leaves and brushwood was savage with smoke and flame The fire spreads across the island and Golding suggests the death of the boy with the mulberry birthmark. Golding is perhaps demonstrating symbolically how all humans are born with the mark of original sin, and are destined to be evil and go to hell. This is suggested by the line Piggy looked nervously into hell. The task of keeping the rescue fire alight becomes increasingly difficult, Jacks group finds hunting a more desirable occupation and only Ralph, Piggy and Simon are left with the fire. A turning point in the book is when the fire goes out and a ship goes by without noticing the boys. The fire going out is symbolic of the hope of being rescued dying out, and the ship going away shows the boys going further and further from civilisation. The hunters later come back and look disappointed that the fire is gone, but a dead pig on the fire rises their spirits and it seems that eating the dead pig seems more important to them than the prospect of rescue, which is a demonstration of the group turning to savagery. At one point when Sam and Eric are guarding the fire, the flames illuminate the outline of the dead parachutist, this invokes fear them and they run away convinced they have seen the beast. Fear is then felt by all in the group at some point, even the rationally Piggy is swept away by supersticion. It is fear that is detrimental to the state of the group, sincere statements from Sam and Eric leave little room for doubt. Weve seen the beast with our own eyes-No we werent asleep they even give a detailed account of how the beast chased them through the forest. The groups response was a strong one The circle of boys shrank away in horror. Sam and Erics irrational fear has been passed to all other boys, even those who try to combat it feel fear, even Simon is fearful of it However Simon thought of the beast, there rose before his inward sight the picture of a human race once heroic and sick. Even though the boys descend from civilisation into savagery there are glimpses of their previous states of mind even in the light of their situation. Boys state their addresses and Jack flinches when describing how he killed a pig. Percival Wemys Madison, The Vicarage, Harcourt St. Anthony, Hants, telephone, telephone, telephone Civilisation is in the boys minds, but gradually savagery descends and we see all traces of society fade away, most noticeably in Jacks new found bloodlust and lack of hesitation when killing pigs. Lord of the Flies Essay Example Lord of the Flies Essay Argument 1: Civilization vs. Savagery Every human has a central instinct lying within them. It is not a question of how close to the actual surface it appears, but rather how well an individual controls and deals with it. In a state of increasing distress and panic, what is one truly capable of? Can one remain sophisticated or will the temptation of their dark inner most thoughts take over, bringing out the savage which exists in us all? William Golding’s Lord of the Flies explores this inquiry through an allegory represented by a group of boys who have been marooned on a deserted island, with no surviving adults. Lord of the Flies has been interpreted and analyzed in several different manners. It has been derived that the allegory of Civilization vs. Savagery is among the strongest interpretations based on considerable supporting evidence. William Goldings Lord of the Flies allegorically shows the good and evil that co-exists in every human being. Each character and symbol displays this possible by what it represents. Ralph and Jack allegorically represent opposing political forces: Jack as the dictator and Ralph as the prototype of a democratic leader. The disappearance of authority figures and the prospect of fun, however, also bring with them fear, for the boys are scared of the possibility of long-term abandonment on the island, a fear that is to be reinforced later by the monster. (Golding, note 1, p. 33) The island represents the archetypal garden and the conch shell which represents power. Golding uses British schoolboys to prove that a little bit of evil exists in all of us. Each of t hese symbols help in proving that we all have some evil in our hearts. â€Å"Everything is taken from the ship. Nothing is invented. We will write a custom essay sample on Lord of the Flies specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Lord of the Flies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Lord of the Flies specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is all painstakingly applied on the island. Time is nothing but the time necessary for capital to produce a benefit as the outcome of work. And the providential function of God is to guarantee a return. God knows his people, the hardworking honest type, by their beautiful properties, and the evil doers, by their poorly maintained, shabby property. Robinsons companion is not Eve, but Friday, docile towards work, happy to be a slave, and too easily disgusted by cannibalism. Any healthy reader would dream of seeing him eat Robinson. † (Gilles Deleuze, p. 12) Ralph begins the story as a carefree boy who does not understand the tragedy amongst the boys. Ralph soon realizes a need for authority and becomes the true leader of the boys. He represents a democratic leader and a traditional form of government. To enforce a parliamentary procedure, he uses to conch shell. Weve got to talk about this fear and decide theres nothing in it. (Golding, note, 1, p. 88) This symbolizes power and authority. In the Civilization vs. Savagery allegory Ralph is part of civilization. He represents reason and leadership. While on the island it was Ralph who first gathered everyone on the beach. It was there that he was elected chief and he established their society. He runs a democracy where everyone votes on issues and he is willing to take everyone’s opinion into consideration. He believes that as long as they stay civilized they can easily survive, live in harmony, and eventually be rescued. â€Å"We’ve got to have rules and obey them,† (Golding, p. 42). Ralph insists on having rules on the island and at first Jack agrees with him although his jealousy for Ralph’s power drives him to constantly undermine and disobey Ralph and his requests. Argument 2: As a religious allegory The significance of Golding’s work is buried deep in his allegorical symbolism. The central focus of Golding’s allegory is the conflict between good and evil. Through his work, Golding attempts to define the nature of evil. He demonstrates the overwhelming presence of evil in every aspect of human life. He depicts evil in his story in many ways. Golding elaborates on the problems of moral choice as well as the inevitability of original sin and human fault. The blindness of self deception, as expressed by the boys, further aids in the development of Lord of the Flies as a religious allegory. During the time in which William Golding devised his allegory, the typical writing style of his contemporaries was centered about an uncertainty of human values. â€Å"The writers of the 1950’s exhibited a fundamental doubt whether life has any importance whatsoever† (Cox 49). Golding contrasted this typical point of view by describing friendship, guilt, pain, and horror with a full sense of how deeply meaningful these can be for the individual. Golding used young boys to show how religion and the teachings of the Bible remain present in every man’s life. Thus, Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies, is a religious allegory with ties to both the new and Old Testament of the Bible. The success of Golding’s work is credited largely to his Christianity. His religion provides and intricate and symbolic plotline to many of his novels. His religious sense does not provoke him to give up all hope for human kind; instead, it provides him with insight to the dignity and importance of human action. The development of plot,descriptions of the island and sea, and treatment of character, he explores actual life to prove dramatically the authenticity of his own religious view point (Cox 48). Golding has been known to have a preoccupation with evil and original sin. Original sin is the Christian idea that all people are born with an inherent sin because of the actions of Adam and Eve. Golding once told a reporter, â€Å"Evil can look after itself. Evil is the problem† (qtd. in Green 173). Golding wishes to scrape off the labels and destroy artificial patterns. He represents himself as what used to be termed a Deist, yet the whole moral framework of his novels is conceived in terms of traditional Christian symbolism (Green 173). In the Lord of the Flies, the character Simon is presented as a Christ figure. There are many different interpretations of what Simon actually represents, however, Golding intended this character to be interpreted as a Christ-figure. As proven by this novel, along with his subsequent literary works, Golding is not to be labeled easily. His characters serve many purposes symbolically and in plot development. Lord of the Flies’ moral framework is conceived in terms of traditional Christian symbolism, however Golding does not fail to include several twists to further obfuscate the reader attempting to label his work. Golding has included a Christ-figure in several of his works. This Christ figure is always someone actively engaged in interpreting the human condition. The characters provide a sense of insight to the influence religion has had on William Golding’s life. The fact that so many of his works include such Christ-figures exhibits the prominent influence of religion in Golding’s life. Golding appears to be preoccupied with the problems that are the eternal questions of a religious man: the nature of good and evil, guilt and responsibility, the meaning of death and free will (Hynes, â€Å"Novels of a Religious Man† 70). His novels are preoccupied with these themes. The characters are challenged with the opportunity to do the right thing and the temptation to give in to the inherent evil within themselves. Golding’s strong intent to convey his message in made obvious in the way he communicates his central message. When Simon suggests that perhaps the beast is in only the boys themselves, it is very symbolic of this idea. This rather subtle interpretation of human nature from a small boy demonstrates further that Golding is so concentrated on his moral message that he will not hesitate to make the youngsters â€Å"dance to his tune† (Johnston 11). The fact that Golding will allow for his central message to be conveyed through the use of a young boy represented as the Christ-figure in the novel shows his intent and focus on religion as well as his concern for the human race. The allegorical symbolism of the novel is presented even more boldly in the content of the story. Even the title itself contains allegorical significance. The name, â€Å"Lord of the Flies,† was the Philistine Beelzebub or Satan. The Jews transmuted his name to mean Lord of the Dung or Filth (Green 176). This name is tied into the sodomy and brutal killing of the sow. It is also connected to the flies surrounding, seemingly engulfing the impaled pig’s head. By the time of the New Testament, â€Å"Lord of the Flies was translated to Lord of the Devils, a generalized Satan (Green 176). It seems utterly too coincidental for this title to have such a deep rooted-religious meaning without the intention of the author. Golding has purposely chosen such a title to lay the groundwork for his religious allegory. The title of the novel is not the only similarity between Golding’s work and the Old Testament. The approach of evil serves as another device to connect Golding’s work to the Bible. Literary critic E. M. Foster concurs with my observation about the approach of evil as an allegorical device. As in the Old Testament, when evil appears in the form of the â€Å"Lord of the Flies†, Beelzebub, he sends a messenger to prepare his way for him in another form. The name of his predecessor is Jack in the Old Testament (Foster 100). This is similar to the approach of evil in the Lord of the Flies. While some may interpret the odious Jack as the satanic figure, he can also be viewed as evil’s predecessor. His evil character and influence comes before the downfall of the island to the inherent evil of the boys. He is the first of all of the boys to have a bloodlust; Jack exhibits the first urge to hunt. Jack’s dictatorial character serves as a harbinger to the evil that will inhabit the island when it is unleashed in all the boys. Another connection to the Old Testament is found in the treatment of pigs throughout the course of the novel. Literary critic Kirsten Olsen notes that in the Old Testament the pig is a non-kosher food. The swine serves as a symbol of filth and forbiddenness (Olsen 130). In the story, the incidents associated with pigs are intertwined with the darkest aspects of human behavior. The hunting of the pigs for food turns into a joyous hunt for blood. The hunt of the female sow shows the true evil of the boys as they sodomize and torment the pig (Golding 135). The joy derived from the killing of the pigs exposes the true evil that is present in the boys. There is another strong association to the Old Testament found in the form of the murderous feast dance performed by the boys (Golding 135). Literary critic Kirsten Olsen observes that this ritualistic dance is strikingly similar to the dance of the Israelites depicted in the Old Testament. The boys dance ritualistically as they all fall victim to the mob mentality that surrounds them. The Israelites dance as they worship the golden calf: both ritualistic dances have an atmosphere of total abandon and revelry (Olsen 130). The last relationship to the Old Testament is present in the Christ-figure of the novel, Simon. While, Golding himself has referred to Simon as a Christ-figure, many literary critics interpret Simon as a derivative of Moses. The similarity between Moses and Simon is evident in their actions. Both Simon and Moses bring wisdom down from the mountain only to discover barbarous ignorance from their people (Olsen 130). The second portion of allegorical symbolism is connected with the New Testament. The first such symbolic intertwining is found in the setting of the island itself. The uninhabited island that serves as the setting for the Lord of the Flies is a mirror image of Eden when the boys first land there. The lush, remote island is full of fruit which hangs for the picking. As literary critic, Lawrence Friedman observes, the tropical climate prompts the boys to shed their clothes (Friedman 65). Literary critic L. L. Dickinson says the boys â€Å"accepted the pleasure of morning, the bright sun, the whelming sea and sweet air, as a time when play was good and life so full that hope was not necessary and therefore forgotten† (Dickinson 13). The boys are free to do what they wish, being restricted only by their own conscience. Just as Adam and Eve were at their own liberty do what they pleased, the boys unrestricted and free. They know however, that performing a morally wrong action will force them to suffer the consequences just as Adam and Eve. The perfection of the setting is placed in the boys’ hands. Just as Adam and Eve had their destiny placed at their fingertips, the boys are tempted with the same decisions. Golding illustrates that mankind is just like Adam and Eve: we can only suppress our greed and savagery for a short amount of time before it inevitably surfaces. Thus, the halcyon, â€Å"Edenic† setting slowly turns into a hell. The setting that resembles paradise is only ephemeral strictly because of the savagery within the boys. The irony is that boys create their own hell just as Adam and Eve were by their own fault exiled from Eden. The beginning of the transformation of the island is represented by the shattering of Piggy’s glasses (Friedman 68). Piggy represents reason in the microcosm of the island. Thus, when Jack strikes Piggy and consequently shatters one of his lenses, reason is symbolically half blind. Hence, without reason, the boys begin to express their inner savagery and slowly the island transforms. This incites the transformation of the innocuous little boys into cold hearted savages. The building of the first is a signal of resurgence of civilized values. However, the fire soon rages out of control. The boy with the birthmark is killed: the seed of fear has been planted (Friedman 68). Reason has failed to explain the darkness within and the island paradise begins its fatal transformation into hell. Golding’s story reflects his opinion on original sin and human nature. Golding demonstrates how evil is dormant in human nature even when the world appears sunny. He depicts how the corruption of darkness can arise from man himself and cast shadows over the sunny, seemingly pleasant setting (Hodson 22). The central Christian message of the novel that Golding attempts to convey is that we are all born in sin or will lapse into it (Foster 100). The boys’ behavior is inevitable because of man’s original sin. The growth of savagery in the boys demonstrates the overwhelming power of original sin (Cox 47). The boys are too evil to account for the evil within themselves. Thus, they project their irrational fears out into the outside world. The beast serves as the externalization of the inner darkness in the children’s nature and its ascendancy is inexorable, along with the path into savagery. This is symbolic of the evil instilled in man through original sin. Literary critic, Arnold Johnston, notes that this also depicts the challenge that the good or holy aspect of society must overcome (Johnston 10). Perhaps the most significant part of Golding’s allegorical puzzle is his Christ-figure, Simon. As well as being compared to Christ, Simon has also been interpreted by the literary critic Samuel Hynes as a saint. He is compared to his supposed namesake, Simon, from the New Testament (72). Simon is one of Christ’s apostles. Other than the name, the other similarity that Simon shares with Simon from the Bible is, as Golding himself puts it he â€Å"voluntarily embraces his fate† (qtd. n Hynes, â€Å"Novels of a Religious Man† 72). The first aspect in the development of Simon as the Christ-figure in the novel is his isolation. His lonely, voluntary quest for the beast is the symbolic core of the book. In his excursion away from the boys, Simon shows himself to be the one character who has an affinity with nature. His first act once the boys reach the island is to withdraw to a place of contemplation, a limpid, sunlit space in the midst of the forest (Hynes, William Golding’s Lord of the Flies19). There are strong religious overtones o the area that Simon finds which, with its candle-buds and serene stillness, resembles a place of worship. This withdrawal parallels Christ’s withdrawal to the temple as a young boy as described in the New Testament. Golding creates the character Simon with intentions for him to be the embodiment of moral understanding. Golding describes Simon to be â€Å"a lover of mankind, a visionary, who reaches commonsense attitudes not by reason but by intuition† and to be â€Å"a Christ-figure in my fable† (qtd. in Hodson 27). The whole story moves towards Simon’s view of reality. Simon helps the â€Å"littluns’ reach a high branch of fruit, indicating his kindness and sympathy; many of the older boys would rather torment the â€Å"littluns† than help them. Simon also sits alone in the jungle clearing while marveling at the beauty of nature. This indicates his basic connection with the natural world. Simon takes the responsibility to help Ralph with the shelter while the other boys enjoy the island or join Jack in the hunt (Golding 53). Simon is the sole exponent of fundamental, natural good. Through Simon’s pure goodness, he is ostracized form the rest of the boys on the island. Simon’s confrontation with the Lord of the Flies is the most complex of the whole novel. This scene is sublimated to its primary purpose: dramatizing the conflict between the civilizing and savage instincts in human beings. The scene also shows Simon’s innocence and sets the stage for the harsh contrast between him and the rest of the savage boys. While staring into the pig’s mouth he sees the infinite cynicism and evil of adult life. This scene serves to dramatize the clash between good and evil. Christ also has a confrontation with evil when he is tempted by Satan in the New Testament. The â€Å"Lord of the Flies† has invaded Simon’s forest sanctuary to preach an age old sermon: evil lies within man whose nature is inherently depraved. Simon cannot counter this lesson. He is engulfed by the spreading of the vast mouth, overwhelmed by Beelzebub’s power and thus he loses consciousness (Friedman 70). He later gathers the courage to face the evil; the inherent and inexorable evil that is in all the boys (Cox 53). He then climbs the hill to go spread the word to the rest of the boys and enlighten them. Golding paints his most startling and powerful scene shortly after the confrontation between good and evil. This scene is the brutal murder of Simon when he descends from the mountain to share the truths of life with the rest of the boys and free them from their fears. They eliminate the hope of Christ’s sacrifice by repeating the pattern of his crucifixion. Lawrence S. Friedman concurs that Simon’s fate underlines the most awful truths about human nature: its blindness, its irritability, and its blood lust (Friedman 71). Piggy and Ralph’s participation in Simon’s heinous murder help to further expose the hopeless human condition. The boys later console themselves and say that Simon’s death was an accident. Piggy’s desperate rationalizations of his ignominious action point to the inability of human reason to cope with the dark reality of nature. As literary critic Lawrence Friedman states, Piggy’s excuses are frantic attempts to explain basest human instincts and actions (Friedman 72). Another similarity between Simon and Christ is that both die for their society (Dickinson 24). Christ dies for the sins of the world; Simon dies as atonement for the evil in the boys. Simon’s dead corpse and the way it is carried out into the ocean is another way of tying him to Christ. He is seen in a holy light after his untimely death. The way Golding describes the corpse being carried out to sea suggests transcendence. â€Å"Softly surrounded by a fringe of inquisitive bright creatures, itself a silver shape beneath the steadfast constellations, Simon’s dead body moved out toward the open sea† (184). The other characters in Lord of the Flies become allegorical agents through Golding’s intricate plot development. All of the boys are both good and bad. Even Ralph and Piggy participate in Simon’s murder: this demonstrates the complexities of human nature. Jack’s name is symbolic in its ties to the New Testament. Jack was a disciple of Christ (Dickinson 14). Thus, the miscreant, Jack, serves as an ironic twist of the religious connotations of his name. Golding’s novel serves as a lesson for society. It teaches us that evil is inherent in all men due to original sin. The spiritual vacuum of Golding’s novel is completed within the tragedy of Lord of the Flies: the futility of Simon’s sacrificial death, the failure of adult morality, and the final absence of God. In this novel, God’s absence leads only to despair. Golding himself states that theme of his novel is â€Å"grief, sheer grief, grief, grief† (qtd. n Friedman 74). The novel is a meditation on the nature of human political society, dealing with such concerns as the development of political systems and the clash in human nature between savage and civilized behavior. Golding has composed a narrative that is essentially a myth or allegory. His elusive writing style has been the central focus of countless literary critics. This myth or allegory strikes through to the deepest roots of our existence- to fear, to hunger, and then to the will to survive. Because these roots are universal to men, he has managed to give fictional form to religious themes. For it is through myths and allegories that the substance of religious belief is most directly communicated. ?

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Hemoglobin D essays Hemoglobin D (Hb D) is not a common disease but it when it does rear its ugly head it usually does so in India, Pakistan or Iran. It was first discovered in 1951 and differs from the other hemoglobin diseases by producing clinically significant conditions like sickle cell anemia and chronic hemolytic anemia of moderate severity (Desai 2004) Hb D usually presents with a mild hemolytic anemia and a mild to moderate splenomegaly. Differentiating Hb D with other hemoglobin diseases is usually done by the zero thalassemia and the fact that it has also been reported to be associated with hematological malignancies. (Desai 2004 pg 13) The disease itself is relatively rare and rather difficult to study due to its rarity. When it is found it is normally done so in north west India or additionally in Pakistan, Iran and other Asian countries such as Thailand. A common variation of the Hb D has been named Hb D-Punjab due to its occurrences in the Punjab region. Basic biochemical properties for Hb D include the normal Hb properties with a substitution of the G AA C AA substitution at condon 121. In addition to that substitution, there is the -28 (AÂ ¡uG) mutation for the thalassemia alleles. One recent study shows that the Hb D-Punjab version can also be associated with haplotype. A-Globin gene haplotype analysis demonstrated, for the first time, that all these Asian AD-Punjab globin genes were associated with haplotype [-++-+++], previously undescribed in other populations. (Fucharoen 2002 pg 261) Fucharoen's study showed that finding of Hb D-Punjab in Thailand is compatible either with an independent origin of this abnormal hemoglobin or a spread of the Hb D-Punjab gene with a single origin among Asians. (Fuchareon 2002 ab) Desai stated that, The main differential for homozygous Hb D disease is Hb D-beta zero thalassemia. Hb D has also been reported to be associated with hematological ma...

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Central Michigan University Leadership Competency Model After reviewing the three leadership development models, I have chosen Central Michigan University (CMU) Leadership Competency Model. The five dimensions of leadership competencies Self Management, Leading Others, Task Management, Innovation and Social Responsibility which I find particularly useful as it essentially focuses on the general concept of core competences like psychological attributes, attitudes and management skills which I relate to best in term of for work, interpersonal relationship and personal attainment. Also, it disregard the type of job industry unlike National Health Service Leadership Framework that is oriented towards improving healthcare services. I believe that CMU model will further develop my insight on my leadership potential, as well as enhancing my interrelationship with others in work or personal situations by understanding the dynamics of human behaviour. My plan will be prioritised on the certain core competencies from the CMU model that I find myse lf lacking or critical for my development. Current Assessment of Strengths and Weaknesses Before working on the development plan, I had to conduct an evaluation on my current strengths and weaknesses as a leader in relate to the CMU model. In order to assist the evaluation process, I have explored assessment tools like Jung, Mbti and Keirsey personality type indicator. However, I find the assessment to be generally generic and partly inaccurate. So instead I approached two of my close social contacts to give an opinion from their perspectives. From the discussion, I found most of the comments to be more accurate with my own self-assessment. One of my strength is the ability to remain goal orientated where it has allowed me to work through tough phases to reach my objective, though sometimes it leads to disappointment when I did not meet my expectation. Also, I have learnt to be self-reliance where I can work well without the need of constant guidance. Being independent has nurtured my other abilities like problem solving and decision making skills. However, being independent may seem like a personal strength, but it can be a weakness as a leader. As being used to work independently in situations, I find myself lacking in communication with others when working in a team. It becomes a natural tendency for me to work alone in my own comfort zone, so sometimes there might be difficulty for me to express my idea and vision. Also, I lack in the aspect of self-confidence in even though I did my research or put in the effort in my work. Communication and self-confidence are the two most important aspects that I find the need to work on most in my plan to establish a firm foundation as a potential leader. As I believe that with improvement on the two aspects, it would boost other self-management and leadership skills as well. Leadership theories In the various leadership theories, there are two concepts that I am able to relate to in my leadership development plan. Firstly, it is the skill approach where I believe that leadership qualities can be nurtured to develop a good leader. Also, I feel that the servant leadership theory is essential as it revolve around the interest of a community and ethical dimension. Unlike the traits theory, skill approach depends on ones capabilities to develop leadership qualities. Northouse (2009) believes that anyone can become a leader if effort were put in to nurture the skills in important aspects. As stated in Katzs three-skill approach, she mentioned that technical, human and conceptual skills can be developed. The approach considers one as an effective leader when the three of leadership skills are acquired and used to accomplish a goal. According to Katzs management skill diagram, technical, human and conceptual skills are required at different level depending on the management level. However, human skill is maintained to be important at all levels. Human skill is referred as the ability to work with people where leadership is focused on building relationship, motivating others and working together as a team. Where I feel is important as a potential leader, thus it is the focus of my leadership development plan. In my opinion, leadership is far from just the interest of an individual but the well-being of others as well. According to Pedersen (2011), Norman Vincent Peale mentioned that the man who lives for himself is a failure; the man who lives for others has achieved true success. Being an independent person, I find that the servant leadership theory would assist in my plan to understand the importance of the growth as a leader along with the growth of others through communicating, listening and building interrelationship. The idea of servant leadership that was developed by Greenleaf has greatly influenced and supported todays successful leaders. A successful leader is someone who places other people like peers or customers as the top priority. Unlike the traditional leadership paradigm, leadership is formed in a hierarchy structure where leaders manage by authority and fear. The modern servant leadership theory is based on five important aspects: trust, respect, mutual understanding, sh ared experience and common goal (Maxwell, 2003). Cohen (2000) feels that leadership is not about the position level. Servant leadership theory is not influenced by the power or authority, but the willingness to help; the commitment to build the growth of a community as a whole. In the servant leadership theory, a good leader is a student as well, where there are constant learning along with their peers through feedback and empowerment. In relation to my leadership framework, I would like to improve on my interrelationship skills with others. I see myself as easy going and agreeable, however with a barrier of being introvert. So my key aspects to foster leadership relationship are based on building higher level of confidence and self-esteem, and to trust and communicate. For a change, the servant leadership theory made me realize that I might find greater success as a leader if I were to able to break the barrier of interaction and commit to excel with others. Leadership Development Plan My aim for the future is to be an entrepreneur in the service industry, providing a complete set of services for pets which include facilities like day care, grooming, training and veterinary clinic. In order to work towards my aim, I have to improve on my leadership qualities in the process. My goal-orientated personality has allowed me to focus on my aim. I have been constantly doing research and acquiring experience in the field like working in pet day care centre, pet grooming centre, veterinary hospital and clinic. Through the experience, I realise that nature of the job requires interaction with people from different countries. For example, many good groomers and veterinary nurses come from other countries like Taiwan or Philippines. Hence, I find it important to improve on my people skills in the process of working towards my goal. I have set a list of priorities to work on the development of my leadership capabilities within the next 2 years. Firstly I will focus on my communication skill, as a potential leader I feel that it is important to be able to interact well with people and the ability to express my views and thoughts. Hence, in the timeframe, I want to step out of my comfort zone and improve on my interpersonal skill. Secondly, I need to work on my self-confidence. I feel that it is one of the most vital attributes for a leader to project a positive vibe by feeling confident in what they do. Therefore, in the process of working towards my goal, I need to work on my insecurities and start believing in myself. In order to build on my self-confidence, I feel that I should work on some personal qualities like being more initiative and optimistic as well. Feedback For the purpose of the leadership development plan, I decided to seek feedback from my supervisor in my workplace as I feel that she is a good role model as a leader. From her perspective, she agreed on my self-assessment of my strengths and weaknesses as the focus to improve on. She feels that my weaknesses of lacking in communication and self-confidence are barriers in the industry I wanted to work in. She advised that I should focus on my self-confidence level first as she believes that with higher level of self-confidence it will boost my communication skills as well. Also, she feels that I should always be self-aware of my progress. She recommended that I should discuss about my progression with my close friends regularly so as to determine if my leadership development plan is effective. From her feedback, I feel that I should focus more on building up my self-confidence first. I will also incorporate her advice to gain more self-awareness in the process to ensure that there is improvement in my leadership qualities. Development Activities In order to work on the priorities I have set on to develop my leadership skill, I have listed out some activities that will assist in my progression. Firstly, in the development of my self-confidence, I should begin with simple action like thinking for positive about myself even in negative situation. I should work hard on being more optimistic by creating daily affirmation. I will speak up more and be more assured about my ideas, and if I do well I will reward myself, but if I dont, I should just accept it and not dwell on it. With progression in my self-confidence, I believe that my communication skill will improve as well. I should not be fearful of making mistakes or expressing myself. I will work on this aspect starting from my peers, I will make an effort to contribute and express my idea in group discussion and participate more. Meanwhile I should continue to Describe how you will evaluate whether or not you have reached the level of development set out in your plan 5 Plan Evaluation Cohen, W. A. (2000). The New Art of the Leader: Leading with Integrity and Honor. Paramus, NJ: Prentice Hall. http://books.google.com.sg/books?id=2F0qz6HlPR4Cpg=PA19dq=The+man+who+lives+for+himself+is+a+failure;+the+man+who+lives+for+others+has+achieved+true+successhl=ensa=Xei=pZFAUZLKA8zRrQer44C4Agved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepageq=The%20man%20who%20lives%20for%20himself%20is%20a%20failure%3B%20the%20man%20who%20lives%20for%20others%20has%20achieved%20true%20successf=false Maxwell, J. C. (2003b). Relationships 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know. Nashville: Thomas Nelson. Leadership, Theory and Practice  by Peter G. Northouse. Chapter 3, Skills Approach.   Sage Publications, ISBN 0-7619-2566-X http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/45968_Chapter_3.pdf Skills of an Effective Administrator, by R. L. Katz, 1955, Harvard Business Review, 33(1), pp. 33-42.